The Importance of Learning the Art of Paper Cut for Ancient Chinese Women

In the ancient Chinese society, finding a suitable marriage partner was the most important task in the life of a female. To qualify as a suitable candidate for marriage, Chinese women were required to possess some specific qualities and skills as per the need of the time. Most often the list of skills desired in perfect bride depended on the dynasty or even the emperor governing the land at the time. One such skill that acquired great importance for would be brides during the era of the Ming and Qin Dynasty was the art of Chinese paper cut, which was the ability to cut the paper in the intricate patterns that could be used for decorative purposes.

Although the art of paper cut was quite popular in the Chinese society since long, during the reign of the Ming and Qin dynasty, this art form was at its peak. In fact, it became so popular that for Chinese women seeking a marriage partner, mastering this delicate art became a prerequisite. Among the various designs that were created through the art of Chinese paper cut, the ones that were most popular were the objects that represented good fortune and happiness. Other designs included the images of flora and fauna, scenes from traditional Chinese folklores and tales and even the images of famous Chinese heroes and mythical creatures.

The ancient art of paper cut is practiced in China even in the modern times and numerous artists which include both Chinese women and men follow their own styles depending primarily on the region they belong to. It is customary to use some form of paper cut decoration in the house on special occasions and festivals. Another significant change that has been observed in this ancient art in the modern times is that artists today not only use the traditional themes for creating beautiful paper cut objects but have also diversified into using the images and themes of inspired by western culture and modern art.